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Analysis of various transport modes to evaluate personal exposure to PM2.5 pollution in Delhi

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Margaret Carol Bell CBE, Dr Paul Goodman

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).


Abstract

Access to detailed comparisons of the air quality variations encountered when commuting through a city offers the urban traveller more informed choice on how to minimise personal exposure to inhalable pollutants. In this study we report on an experiment designed to compare atmospheric contaminants, in this case, PM2.5 inhaled during rickshaw, bus, metro, non-air-conditioned car, air-conditioned (AC) car and walking journeys through the city of Delhi, India. The data collection was carried out using a portable TSI SidePak Aerosol Monitor AM520, during February 2018. The results demonstrate that rickshaws (266±159 μg/m3) and walking (259±102 μg/m3) modes were exposed to significantly higher mean PM2.5 levels, whereas AC cars (89±30 μg/m3) and the metro (72±11 μg/m3) had the lowest overall exposure rates. Buses (113±14 μg/m3) and non-AC cars (149±13 μg/m3) had average levels of exposure, but open windows and local factors caused surges in PM2.5 for both transport 35 modes. Closed air-conditioned transport modes were shown to be the best modes for avoiding high concentrations of PM2.5, however other factors (e.g. time of the day, window open or closed in the vehicles) affected exposure levels significantly. Overall, the highest total respiratory deposition doses (RDDs) values were estimated as 84.7±33.4 μ g/km, 15.8±9.5 39 μ g/km and 9.7±0.9 μ g/km for walking, rickshaw and non-AC car transported mode of journey, respectively. Unless strong pollution control measures are taken, the high exposure to PM2.5 levels will continue causing serious short-term and long-term health concerns for the Delhi residents. Implementing integrated and intelligent transport systems and educating commuters on ways to reduce exposure levels and impacts on commuter’s health are required.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Maji KJ, Namdeo A, Hoban D, Bell M, Goodman P, Nagendra SMS, Barnes J, DeVito L, Hayes E, Longhurst J, Kumar R, Sharma N, Kuppili SK, Alshetty D

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Atmospheric Pollution Research

Year: 2021

Volume: 12

Issue: 2

Pages: 417-431

Print publication date: 04/02/2021

Online publication date: 10/12/2020

Acceptance date: 04/12/2020

Date deposited: 08/01/2021

ISSN (electronic): 1309-1042

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2020.12.003

DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2020.12.003


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
NE/P016588/1Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

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